Boulevard Brewing Signs On With Sporting Kansas City

Major League Soccer (MLS) side Sporting Kansas City has entered into a new sponsorship agreement with Boulevard Brewing Company.

The local brewery becomes the official craft beer sponsor of the team for a five-year period, expanding on a previously informal partnership between the two Kansas City organisations.

As part of its commitment, Boulevard will title sponsor the Boulevard Members' Club at Kansas City’s Sporting Park. No financial terms were released.

"The synergy between our two brands has been incredible, so we're obviously thrilled to continue the partnership in an even bigger way," said Andy Tretiak, the clubs’s chief marketing officer. "We're already working on some cool new programmes for the upcoming season."
Boulevard's director of marketing Jeremy Ragonese added: "This has been in the works for a long time. Our mutual fans have been outspoken in their support for an alliance between Boulevard and Sporting KC, and their passion for our brands makes this a natural fit."

Former Wizard Returns To KC To Play Indoor Game For Comets

The Missouri Comets have announced the return of Craig Rocastle to the Comets for the upcoming season, pending league approval. Rocastle, who already had ties to the metro when he played for Sporting KC, signed with the Comets last season but was allowed to go play for Thrasyvoulos FC of the Greek Second Division, where he started 17 games, earned nine Player of the Game awards recorded eight assists.
“Letting Craig gain more experience by playing internationally will only benefit the Comets this season,” said Comets President Brian Budzinski. “We wanted him on the team and he wanted to come back to Kansas City for his family, the timing just fit and he can be an immediate impact on the team.”
Rocastle (6-foot-1, Lewisham, England) holds citizenship with the country of Grenada and played extensively in the European highest divisions including English Premier League team from Chelsea, Sheffield Wednesday and Oldham Athletic. In 2009 he signed with English club Forest Green Rovers; he made 15 appearances with the Rovers before gaining interest from American teams.
Rocastle signed with the Kansas City Wizards (now Sporting Kansas City) in March of 2010 making 23 appearances and starting 18 games that season. He was an important part of the lineup for the Wizard’s match vs. Colorado in the US Open Cup, and the Wizard’s 2-1 victory over Manchester United that season. In November of 2010, he was called up to the Grenada National Team player pool where he earned his first cap on November 26, 2010 in a Caribbean Championship match vs. Guadeloupe. Rocastle appeared in six Sporting Kansas City games before hurting his knee in a Gold Cup match with Grenada. Overall, he has made 29 appearances (23 starts) for the Wizards/Sporting KC franchise and has earned 11 caps for Grenada.